Ed Christman of Billboard.com reports that negotiations are underway for GUNS N' ROSES' long-delayed "Chinese Democracy" to come out as an exclusive at one of the big boxes — either Wal-Mart or Best Buy.

Negotiations are also ongoing to have conventional record company distribution, a source tells Billboard.com.

GUNS N' ROSES is now managed by Irving Azoff's Front Line Management, and Azoff is a well-known proponent of issuing albums exclusively through retailers. He released THE EAGLES' "Long Road Out of Eden" through Wal-Mart, much to the chagrin of other merchants.